Author's Note: Sorry the ending to "Terrible Knowing" was a little confusing. I wrote it in a rush. I was going to change it, but now that you've all read it I'll just explain it in this chapter. Hope this clears some things up. Hearts, Kittie

A horn sounded, startling Nasuada from sleep. The stomp of booted feet echoed down the hall. Nasuada was already up and dressing. Something was wrong.

She slipped into her tunic, fastening her father's sword at her side. Her feet went into her soft leather boots. Hand on the sword, she strode towards the door.

Before she could reach it, someone pounded on the wood.

Nasuada tightened her grip on her sword. "Who's there?" she called, dreading the answer.

"It's me."

Orrin.

She opened the door. Orrin's eyes were wild, his tunic rumpled. "We're being attacked! Five thousand soldiers. Crest of Galbatorix. Northern side," he gasped.

Nasuada brushed past him, into the hall. Men were running this way and that. She looked around desperately.

Must remain calm…

"Where are the children?" she asked. "They have to be brought to safety."

"Trianna and the witch woman are taking care of them."

"Elva?"

Orrin paused. "I assume she's with them."

Nasuada took a cleansing breath, trying to still her racing heart. "What about the apprentices?"

Orrin looked at the ground. "I don't know."

Nasuada growled with annoyance. Couldn't he do anything right? They were in the middle of a crisis here, and all he could think about was whether or not she was okay. Pathetic. The children and apprentices should have been taken care of first.

"Come on," she ordered, running in the direction of the watchtower. She grabbed his hand, dragging him up the stairs.

What she saw made her heart skip a beat. Or three. She felt cold.

"We're doomed."

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Swords clashed. Lexia dodged. She felt the rush, heard the dangerous swish as a sword slid through the place her head had been.

She continued to dodge, weave through and around the soldiers. The sounds of battle surrounded her, and Lexi knew that this could only end two ways.

Her sight had faded again. She had been left in darkness. She didn't know what had happened, or why. It didn't matter. Perhaps she had imagined it. Whatever it had been, she was glad it was gone. Darkness was her world, and she was comfortable in it.

She felt Jo somewhere to her left. The other girl was a mighty fighter. Lexi couldn't hope to best her, even on the practice courts.

They shouldn't be out here. Apprentices weren't supposed to fight, they were supposed to watch and learn. Yet here they were, their swords licking across the enemy, fighting beside the men of the Varden and the men of Aberon.

Lexi rolled, avoiding two swords and striking with her own. Jo's battle cry echoed in her ears, but she ignored it. Nothing mattered but staying alive.

The darkness that enveloped her offered her comfort and strength. She couldn't get distracted by bright colors or the flashing mirrors that soldiers often used to blind their attackers. But there was so much sound…

Screams. The clink of metal on metal. The pound of boots. The jingle of armor. A raven crowed.

Raven.

The bringer of death.

Lexi let out a silent prayer to every god she knew. Protect us.

She was getting distracted. Her foot caught on something, sending her sprawling. NO!

She sensed someone above her. She could picture the nasty grin on his face. Picture his sword…

It swung downwards, towards her. She tried not to scream.

There was a resounding clash as a sword met the one that had been Lexi's doom. Jo.

"Leave her alone."

Jo's voice was barely audible above the clashing, the screaming. But Lexi heard the venom, the sheer, unquestioning loyalty to her and hatred of the enemy. She got to her feet, retrieving her sword.

Back to back, the warrior apprentices battled. They covered each other's weaknesses, played each other's strengths. They moved as one, their minds blending into a common resolve. Defend the Varden. Defend each other. Defend Justice.

The sun was rising. It's first few rays danced on Lexi's skin. Good. Now the others would not fight in darkness…but to her, everything was darkness. She shook the thought away. Fight. Kill. Or die.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Nasuada strung her bow.

"Fire!"

Together with the archers, Nasuada released. Arrows rained down on the troops, the ones who stood at attention beyond the fray of the battle lines.

"There are too many," she shouted to Orrin. Too many…

"Hope wins the battle."

Nasuada blinked. That was unexpected. She knew the verse from an old fairytale her father had told her as a child. But it sounded strange, coming from Orrin's lips.

She notched another arrow into her bow.

"Fire!"

Another volley of arrows flew towards Galbatorix's men.

Orrin looked at Nasuada, stringing his own bow. Determination, hope, and a tinge of underlying sorrow shone in his eyes.

So much death…

Orrin turned his gaze downwards, to the chaos below. His soldiers, along with the Varden. A single unit, fighting for a common cause. Common cause…single unit…

The thought struck sparks in his mind. If they made it out of here alive…

A young brunet girl ran up to them, ducking low to avoid arrows or magic from the enemy.

"Lady Nasuada!" she yelped, "The children are all accounted for, ma'am." Her skin was pale, terrified.

"What about the apprentices, Ellemo?" Nasuada questioned the young mage.

"Fire!"

Ellemo looked at the ground. "Most of them."

"What do you mean?"

Ellemo shuffled nervously. "Alexia, Jo'Hanna, Tristan, and Royce—" she broke off, bursting into sobs.

"Fire!"

Nasuada let out a shriek of annoyance. "Can't those idiot apprentices do as they are told? They'll get themselves killed!"

"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"

"We're in the middle of a battle, Ellemo. Say what you want."

Ellemo bit her lip, stilling the tears. "They…they would die to protect the Varden, ma'am." She raised her head, a new steel covering some of the fear in her eyes. "All of us would."

Nasuada pursed her lips. "Very well. Report back to Trianna."

"She told me to help you in whatever way I could, ma'am." The mage girl was obviously scared stiff at the idea of staying out here, in the middle of a battle.

Nasuada met Orrin's eyes, then shrugged. "Alright. Try to disable some of their troops."

"How?" she whimpered.

"However Trianna taught you," Nasuada said snappishly. "We've got a battle to fight. Get on it!"

"I'm afraid."

Nasuada blinked, then nodded. "Do your best."

"Fire!"

Ellemo nodded, settling on the wall. Fear choked her. She was terrified. So much death…destruction…it was terrible. She tried to push down the fear, but only succeeded in breaking into more tears. She wasn't a hero. She never had been.

But…she had to be. She had to protect her friends. Royce. His name in her heart gave her a new strength.

She reached out with her mind. Thoughts and feelings not her own rushed into her head. The pain was terrible. She drew away with a shriek.

She looked at Nasuada. Failure meant death for her Lady, the King, and her friends. She grimaced, before delving into the mess of life again.

The pain was startling, but Ellemo fought through it. Soon it settled. She found herself in the middle of a section of soldiers, who were yet unaffected by the battle. Their names, their histories, their thoughts—they were all at her hand, should she chose to draw them out.

I'm sorry, she said in their heads. She felt the shock that rippled through them, as she drew life from each. Then blackness.

The mage girl retreated back into her own mind. She felt energetic, better than she had in months. All that life…hers.

Nasuada was staring at her in amazement. Ellemo's gaze fell on the section of troops she had killed. Her mouth fell open. That must have been…five hundred soldiers!

Lady Nasuada blinked. "Whatever you did, keep doing it."

Ellemo nodded once, then surged into the enemy again.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jo felt Lexi tiring. The girl was amazing, striking with accuracy and swiftness. But she was small and lithe, not built for endurance. She didn't complain, but gradually, she had leaned on Jo more.

The warrioress kicked out at a soldier, swirling her sword in an arc. His head tumbled to the ground. A clean cut.

She glanced wildly around, her heart pounding like a thousand horses. The soldiers just kept coming. It was hopeless.

Hope wins the battle.

The words in her head startled her. For a second, her sword faltered. A blade slashed from no where, cleaving a cut across her chest.

The voice had been Ellemo's. But that was impossible. Ellemo would never have stayed during a battle. She would have run, hidden. That was just how she was.

The pain in Jo's chest was terrible, a distracting, burning fire.

It healed. The wound closed up, the trail of blood stilled. What had happened? Who healed her?

Fight, Jo.

Ellemo's voice again.

Ellemo?

Just fight, idiot!

Definitely Ellemo. No one else got away with calling Jo an idiot. Except maybe Tristan. But he didn't count.

Behind her, Lexi seemed endowed with new energy. Her blade arced and parried, thrust and slid around her enemies with the same vigor as it had.

Inside, Jo cheered. Things were looking up.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Orrin blinked stupidly. "She did what?"

Nasuada's face was split by a huge grin. "She stole energy, life, from the enemy troops."

Orrin wasn't sure where this was going.

"And gave it to ours."

Orrin's mouth fell open. "Well done, young mage."

Nasuada turned to an archer. "I want all of Du Vrangr Gata up here. Now!"

Ellemo didn't hear them. She sat statue-still, her face crossed in concentration. So much life…all at her fingertips. It overwhelmed her. But she was glad. Jo and Lexia were alive and well. She had healed their wounds, gave them strength. She may not be a fighter, but she could help.

Tristan…her mind searched for her male companions. Royce…

oooooooooooooooooooo

Fight!

Lexi felt refreshed again. Sleep wasn't so tempting. Her mind was sharp again, her muscles had quit aching.

Her blade kept dancing. A man cried out, and Lexi faltered for a moment. Pain shot into her shoulder. No. Just keep fighting. Don't think, don't stop.

The wound healed. Ellemo. She had known that her burst of strength had been from the other girl. It seemed she found her courage after all…

Lexia parried another blow. The opposing blade glanced off hers painfully, jarring her wrist. She yelped with the pain. It was soon eased by Ellemo.

Thank you, Lexia told her, wherever she was.

Fight.

Lexia continued battling.

There was still hope.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Royce felt Tristan's back press against his. They were gaining ground, pushing the enemy away from Aberon. But they could only keep it up so long.

Hope wins the battle.

Ellemo. He knew her voice, her mind as well as his own. She had talked to him in his head before, on that night when they had abandoned childhood and became adults.

If I get through this, he told himself, I'll ask her to marry me.

He continued to fight. After all, what else could he do? The Varden, his friends, and his love were in danger. There was no other choice.

Hope, his heart called. Hope wins the battle.